How to paint high places without a ladder? (2023)

How do you paint hard to reach high areas?

Brush and roller extenders are extremely helpful tools for painting hard-to-reach areas. Extenders attach to your painting supplies to give you more reach without climbing on a ladder. This makes the job less physically demanding too!

Ladders and Extension Pole

A combination of an extension ladder, a painting extension pole, and an extra-wide roller frame and cover is an economical alternative to using a scaffold. The extension ladder helps you reach the high corners for edging.

In most rooms, a ladder is all you need in order to be able to reach the edges and ceilings for painting. However, if you have a really large space, it might require scaffolding. If you don't already have these items on hand, you can often rent ladders and scaffolding from a hardware store.

Attach the paint brush to the end of an extension pole to reach tall spots. To reach the top corners of your tall wall, use strong tape to attach your brush to the extension pole. The pole should be long enough that you can paint without having to use a ladder.

The two best options are an extension ladder or a trestle ladder. There are two types of extension ladders: straight and articulating. Straight ladders are better for reaching high ceilings, while articulating ladders are better for maneuvering around obstacles.

The best way to paint a ceiling is to use a paint roller and work in grid-like sections of 3 square feet to 5 square feet each. This helps keep edges wet and allows you to see your progress to ensure an even coat. For smooth ceilings, use a low nap roller.

Using a ladder or a scaffold along with an applicator extension pole is the safest and easiest way to enable you to reach high walls and ceilings with a brush or roller.

The ceiling should always be painted first. This allows you to effectively cover the surface with at least two coats while not having to worry about any over-spray (the effect of excess paint being sprayed onto the walls) by the roller. When painting the ceiling, you should always use a roller with a double arm frame.

How to paint a high stairwell safely?

The safest way to paint the highest points of your stairwell is using a paint roller and extension poles. We're not saying it's the easiest way, your arms and neck will suffer for days afterwards, but it's definitely less risky than balancing on planks or ladders.

You'll probably have better luck by using a roller to get paint onto the wall and mostly into the crevices, then quickly following up by brushing with a mostly dry brush to even out thick or thin areas and whisk away paint globs, especially in the grooves, before they dry into visible drips.

Reach and Roll

An extension rod for a paint roller allows you to reach farther back than your arm would be able to, allowing you to paint most or all of that above-cabinet space from one position on a ladder. Some rods telescope, allowing even more reach when necessary.

Hyper-Realism

These styles garner huge attention and praise from the public, but not necessarily other artists. For those who do not practice painting, hyper-realism and photo-realism are often considered the most difficult due to the wow factor.